Star Trek - PChttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/star_trek/b/pc/atom.aspxCommunity Server2011-06-08T15:52:00ZNamco Bandai Sets Phasers To Failure/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2013/04/24/namco-bandai-sets-phasers-to-failure.aspx2013-04-24T16:57:00Z2013-04-24T16:57:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/namco-bandai/startrek/review610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>J.J. Abrams&rsquo; 2009 Star Trek reboot took the concepts from the
original 1960s television series and made them more palatable for a
larger audience. The original series, while full of fun characters and
clever storylines, was presented with gaudy sci-fi aesthetics produced
on a &lsquo;60s television budget. Digital Extremes&rsquo; newest game, based on the
J.J. Abrams film series, reminds me more of the original series than
the recent films; the game has a few clever mechanics and moments, but
its overall lack of polish ensures that it doesn&rsquo;t stand the test of
time.</p>
<p>This game slides into the timeline somewhere between the 2009 film
and this year&rsquo;s Star Trek Into Darkness. After losing their home world,
the Vulcan race has settled on a new planet. To aid construction, the
Vulcans build a machine called the Helios Device, which collects and
harnesses the power from a pair of nearby suns. Unfortunately, the
reptilian Gorn race gets their hands on the contraption and begins using
it as a doomsday device. The only things standing in the Gorn&rsquo;s way are
Captain James T. Kirk and his logical science officer, Mr. Spock. </p>
<p>The story starts out promising, and is filled with fun little
character moments, but quickly devolves into a race for the Helios
Device that shuffles players from one firefight to the next. Maybe that
wouldn&rsquo;t be a problem if Star Trek&rsquo;s third-person cover-based shooting
was compelling, but everything &ndash; the alien planets, the weaponry, the
occasional climbing sections &ndash; feels generic. Star Trek doesn&rsquo;t even
have a traditional melee attack; you have to stun an enemy with your
phaser before you can perform a close-range takedown. </p>
<p>The action is equally flawed. Digital Extremes has made creative use
of the tricorder (the handheld scanning device), allowing you to boost
your teammates shields in battle or remotely hack enemy grenades so they
explode before thrown, but these clever ideas don&rsquo;t make up for the
loose aiming or the tired enemy AI that walks straight into oncoming
fire while shooting from the hip, Terminator-style. </p>
<p>As you travel through alien worlds and derelict space stations, you
power up your equipment with credits earned from scanning objects
throughout the environment. These upgrades allow you to turn your phaser
into an automatic weapon or boost your tricorder so that you can level
up your teammate&rsquo;s shields. Unfortunately, this upgrade system feels
thin and fails to encourage experimentation. Your tools only have a
limited number of upgrades, so once you&rsquo;ve purchased your desired
loadout, you have nothing left to spend credits on. I maxed out my
equipment halfway though the game and ended up with a Scrooge
McDuck-sized piggybank by the end. </p>
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<p>Star Trek encourages you to be stealthy, but these sequences are so
tedious that I often found it easier to just run through with my guns
blazing. Thankfully, you don&rsquo;t have to be a chameleon to sneak past a
Gorn; enemies often fail to notice their companions getting stunned in
the face by a phaser blast. I watched so many Gorn take nosedives in
front of their friends that I have to assume that toppling over is a
traditional Gorn greeting. </p>
<p>Big action moments serve as a counterpoint to the stealth. Calling
down an airstrike from the Enterprise and chasing a Gorn through the
interior of a turbolift are ultimately marred by an overall lack of
polish. Background textures flicker, characters fall through the world,
and my system crashed completely. These distractions make it impossible
to enjoy what should have been the most impressive moments.</p>
<p>Even though I was grateful to have my AI partner complete many of the
simple hacking minigames, co-op is still the better way (though not
necessarily a good way) to play. Kirk and Spock have different tech
upgrades, and occasionally assist each other during combat. At one
point, Kirk hurts himself and Spock has to help him hobble to sickbay
while Kirk defends them both with his phaser. In another sequence, one
player has to clamber across a ravine while the other scans the
environment for enemies with their tricorder. Digital Extremes did a
good job of coming up with creative ways for two players to assist each
other, though you also do plenty of ledge-boosting and door-opening.</p>
<p>Star Trek is ultimately a generic third-person shooter that stumbles
in the execution of its few cool moments. Co-op might have saved the
experience if Digital Extremes had fixed the bugs, polished the
controls, and made the AI repeat basic training &ndash; but that&rsquo;s a lot of
work just to bring the game up to baseline standards. The Star Trek
franchise is built on the concept of a hopeful future, but fans should
keep looking toward the horizon, because this present trek is hopeless.</p>
<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2799879" width="1" height="1">GIBenhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIBen/default.aspxBoldly Go Behind The Scenes With The Actors Of The USS Enterprise/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2013/04/18/boldly-go-behind-the-scenes-with-the-actors-of-the-uss-enterprise.aspx2013-04-18T18:57:35Z2013-04-18T18:57:35Z<p><img style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/namcobandai/startrek/SimonPeggStarTrek610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>In anticipation of the release of Star Trek: The Video Game next week, Namco Bandai has provided us with a new look behind the scenes. The game features key members of the Star Trek: Into Darkness cast, including Christopher Pine (James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Zoe Saldana (Nyota Uhura), John Cho (Hikaru Sulu), Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott), Karl Urban (Leonard McCoy), and Anton Yelchin (Pavel Checkov).</p>
<p>Michael Giacchino, long-time composing companion to <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2013/03/25/star-trek-goes-where-most-games-have-gone-before.aspx">Star Trek</a> director J. J. Abrams, will be providing his talents to the game. You can give a listen to the voice actors at work in the new video below.</p>
<p>Star Trek: The Video Game arrives on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on April 23, 2013.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2755880" width="1" height="1">GIMikehttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMike/default.aspxStar Trek Goes Where Most Games Have Gone Before/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2013/03/25/star-trek-goes-where-most-games-have-gone-before.aspx2013-03-25T22:21:00Z2013-03-25T22:21:00Z<p><img style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/paramount/startrek/startrekprev610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>As Paramount continues to build excitement for its upcoming film <i>Star Trek: Into Darkness</i>, developer Digital Extremes (Darkness II) has quietly been working on a game that will help bridge the new film with JJ Abram&rsquo;s 2009 release. </p>
<p>During a hands-on demo at GDC, we sat in the captain&rsquo;s chair and then put Kirk&rsquo;s phaser to good use. The entire game can be played co-op as Kirk and Spock work together to fight the Gorn, a lizard-like race that fans might remember from the original series. </p>
<p>Whereas Kirk is a brash cowboy eager to jump into battle, Spock is a more logical and efficient strategist, and the two characters will have to work together if they are going to survive to see the second film hit theaters. </p>
<p>The game starts as the <i>Enterprise</i> responds to a distress signal from a Vulcan space station currently in low orbit around a star. Kirk and Spock beam aboard to rescue the Vulcan crew and then use their tricorders to find hidden secrets, hack open doors, and discover vocal recordings that help flesh out the story. The duo also have to support each other during battle. For example, later in the game players will get to control the <i>Enterprise,</i> and during this sequence one player will fly the ship while the other fires at enemy targets. In another sequence where Kirk&rsquo;s leg is injured, Spock has to help carry him to the med bay while Kirk defends them with his phaser. </p>
<p><img style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/paramount/startrek/startrekprevfill1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>There are over 25 different weapons in the game and each one has two different modes of fire. While the phaser can be set to kill, its stun setting allows you to disable security robots and then hack them to work for you. A Starfleet riffle also doubles as a portable shield and a Gorn shotgun has a grenade attachment.</p>
<p>Spock and Kirk will fight over 16 different species of Gorn, from basic grunts to lieutenants with better armor, to Rusher Gorn who run at you on all fours. Digital Extremes spent a lot of time working with the film&#39;s costumer designers and effects artists, and rounded up the film&rsquo;s actors to record dialog for the game, so even though the game is still a little rough around the edges, it feels like a real Star Trek experience. </p>
<p>We notices a few bugs while we were playing and the animations can be a little rough. The combat also feels a little generic, which is disconcerting for a game that comes out in about a month. Star Trek doesn&rsquo;t look like it will light the gaming world on fire, but at the very least we&rsquo;re excited to call down an airstrike on a planet using the <i>Enterprise</i> when the game releases on April 23.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2681772" width="1" height="1">GIBenhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIBen/default.aspxSettle Into The Captain's Chair In New Star Trek Video/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2013/02/15/settle-into-the-captain-39-s-chair-in-new-star-trek-video.aspx2013-02-15T17:00:29Z2013-02-15T17:00:29Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/namco-bandai/startrek/startrek0215-610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Namco Bandai and Paramount have released a making-of video for Star Trek: The Video Game. The first installment shows off a little bit of how Kirk and Spock are different, as well as some interior shots of the <i>USS Enterprise</i>. </p>
<p>There aren&#39;t any mind-blowing details in the clip, but it&#39;s nice to see more of the game in action. Look for it on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 23.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2585144" width="1" height="1">GIJeffhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIJeff/default.aspxKirk And Spock Deliver A Co-Op Experience/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2012/04/17/kirk-and-spock-deliver-a-co-op-experience.aspx2012-04-17T16:57:59Z2012-04-17T16:57:59Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/namco-bandai/startrek/startrek0417-610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>The Star Trek franchise got a much-needed boost with J.J. Abrams&#39; 2009 reboot. Early next year, gamers will get a chance to explore this reimagined universe as either Kirk or Spock in a video-game adaptation that bridges the events between the first film and its upcoming sequel. You may want to enlist a friend for this adventure, because it&#39;s been designed with co-op in mind.</p>
<p>Namco Bandai showed off a new trailer for the game last week at its&nbsp;Global Gamers Day, which you can see here today for the first time. In it, you can get a taste of some of the action that&#39;s in store.</p>
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<p>The developers at Digital Extremes worked closely with Paramount Pictures and Abrams&#39; Bad Robot production company to make the game as faithful to the movies as possible. This means that the game version of the <i>Enterprise</i> was built using ILM-provided models from the film.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Players can choose to play as Kirk or Spock, and they each have their own strengths on the field. Kirk is great for players who like to rush headlong into combat, while Spock is a good pick for folks who like to hang back and be more strategic. Both of their phasers can be upgraded throughout their adventure, allowing Kirk to fire even more deadly blasts, while Spock can disable enemies with a stasis field.</p>
<p>Look for Star Trek on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC early next year.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1857677" width="1" height="1">GIJeffhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIJeff/default.aspxNew Star Trek Trailer Features All In-Game Footage/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2011/08/17/new-star-trek-trailer-features-all-in-game-footage.aspx2011-08-17T20:40:00Z2011-08-17T20:40:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/paramount/startrek/startrek0603-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Want to see how Kirk and Spock&#39;s buddy adventure will play? The new video should answer some questions. <br /><br />We&#39;ve been very curious about the upcoming Star Trek game from Digital Extremes, which was announced at this year&#39;s E3 to a hefty amount of praise. The new game casts players into the roles of Kirk and Spock as they work together against an as yet unidentified threat. <br /><br />The new trailer for the game shows off several interesting tidbits of actual playable action from the game. It&#39;s clear that Digital Extremes is working hard to have the game keep the same breakneck pacing and excitement that made the recent Abrams movie reboot so well-loved. <br /><br />Check out the trailer, and share your opinions of the new Star Trek game in the comments below. </p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1154040" width="1" height="1">GIMillerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMiller/default.aspxStar Trek Game Beams In New Trailer/games/star_trek/b/pc/archive/2011/06/08/star-trek-game-beams-in-new-trailer.aspx2011-06-08T20:52:00Z2011-06-08T20:52:00Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/paramount/startrek/startrek0603-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Set in the new movie universe of characters, the recently announced Star Trek game looks like nothing else the franchise has ever seen. <br /><br />There have been lots of Star Trek games over the years, but few that have managed to garner attention beyond the dedicated Trek fan community. Digital Extremes is looking to change that with its new Star Trek game, which pairs Kirk and Spock together in a cooperative action game set in the universe established in 2009&#39;s Abrams&#39; directed film. <br /><br />The game will release to PS3, 360 and PC sometime in 2012, but Sony has a number of exclusives connected to the title, including a PlayStation Move Phaser peripheral, and stand-alone pre-release downloadable content, presumably a DLG in the vein of games like Dead Rising 2: Case Zero. <br /><br />&ldquo;Most teaser trailers feature zero gameplay, but we&rsquo;re proud to introduce Star Trek to the world with a first look made up entirely of pre-Alpha gameplay to show how great the game looks even though it is more than a year off,&rdquo; said Tom Lesinski, president of Paramount Digital Entertainment in a press release. &ldquo;The level of quality and authenticity to the new Star Trek (2009) universe is a testament to talent of the team and the strong collaboration between Digital Extremes and the filmmakers.&rdquo;<br /><br />The new trailer certainly looks pretty action-packed. Here&#39;s hoping this new Trek can find an audience beyond its familiar niche. </p>
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<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=982482" width="1" height="1">GIMillerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMiller/default.aspx